Comanche War Party, Chief Discovering the Enemy and Urging his Men at Sunrise

During the spring and summer of 1834, Catlin traveled with the United States cavalry on what the government called a peacemaking expedition. A regiment of dragoons was sent to foster trade and peace in the lands of the Comanche, Kiowa, and Wichita in present-day Oklahoma. George Catlin probably painted this work in his studio during the winter following the dragoon expedition.